Sleep Mode

Chapter 7

"What's your charge at?" Hank asked as Connor huffed and laid his head against the headrest of the car.

"Lieutenant. My charge has not changed in the last five minutes, it is still at 89%. All of my programs are running adequately. My thirium level is at full capacity and I'm keeping my charge," Connor stated, "Is there something troubling you?" Hank was silent as they drove to the precinct. The man licked his lips like he was about to speak but didn't. Connor dug his coin out of his pocket, beginning to spin it along his knuckles as he gazed out of the window. Hank glanced at the android for a few moments, he seemed better.

Connor was wearing his uniform, he seemed happier in Hanks opinion. Yet he knew that everything that has happened over the past two days wouldn't just disappear like they were nothing. Connor would probably have those issues for the rest of his life and he couldn't just hide away from them like before. Now Hank knew, and he was willing to do whatever it was to keep his partner safe. Connor would have to regain trust in people and androids before anything even started to change.

They pulled into the precinct parking lot and Hank turned off the car. Connor went for the door handle and Hank locked the door. The android looked at the lieutenant, giving him a curious look.

"Alright we need to make a deal. You have to tell me everything that is going on, can you do that Connor?" Hank asked. Connor slipped the coin into his coat pocket as his LED turns to yellow.

"Would that be useful Lieutenant?" Hank rubbed at the bridge of his nose with his right hand.

"What did I tell you about calling me, Lieutenant." Hank stated as Connor registered the statement.

"Not too unless we are at work, but we are at work Hank." Connor responded.

"We aren't in the precinct yet. Anyways, you have to tell me if something is going on with you alright, I'm not another android I can't help you just by touch or by talking to each other remotely." Hank clarified. "Can you do that Connor?"

"Of course."

"One last thing. If someone is threatening you, hurting you or anything that makes you uncomfortable you gotta tell me. I'll make sure that they know they can't get away with that shit anymore." Hank said as Connor thought about that for a few moments.

"But you aren't always with me." Connor countered.

"Yeah, that's another thing. Try not to leave me, if you really need to for a scene or something always tell me where you're going." Hank stated as Connor smiled nodding his head in agreement.

"Yes, sir." Connor said as Hank unlocked the door and got out. Hank smiled following after the android as the two entered the police station and went to their desks. Hank huffed noticing all the files that still sat on his desk. Even though a lot of their work was now electronic based, they still had to do paperwork. "I can take care of that." Connor stated as he reached over his empty desk and grabbed a pen from Hank's cup. His LED flipping from yellow to a calm blue as the android set to work.

Hank stared at Connors desk, as the android grabbed a file from the pile starting to fill out the paperwork. The desk was empty, it was devoid of any semblance of life. There were no pictures that littered the table or little knick knacks. There was no character to it, it was one of the things that Hank hated. He hated how Connor had so much personality yet, because of his strict programming refused to get anything of sentimental value. The only thing that android had that was his own, that he truly cared about was that coin. Looking over his own desk, Hank noticed the few pictures that sat around the terminal. A small potted plant sat on the end of the table, even his desk, which he spent little time at had more personal items than Connors.